NEW DEPUTY PM ROSCA PROMISES ACTION ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CHISINAU 000525 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/UMB, DRL/AE, G/TIP E.O. 12958: Declassify 06/16/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KTIP KWMN CASC MARR MD SUBJECT: NEW DEPUTY PM ROSCA PROMISES ACTION ON TIP, IMPROVED COLABORATION WITH U.S. Classified by Ambassador Asif J. Chaudhry under 1.4 (b) and (d). REF (A) Chisinau 492 ¶1. (C) Summary: In two meetings with Ambassador Chaudhry, June 24 and 26, newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister Iurie Rosca promised to use his new authority to correct human rights abuses in Moldova and rejuvenate the country's efforts against trafficking in persons (TIP). He noted that better statistics were needed on trafficking, suggesting that the situation had already improved but that Moldova needed the data to prove it. Rosca said he had already discussed the issue of IRI and NDI registration with the President, and promised to raise it with the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and return again to the President, suggesting he could solve this problem. Rosca also expressed his readiness to tackle issues of corruption in the "criminal" Ministry of Interior, which is now under his subordination. He promised, and later delivered, information about the Ministry of Defense transfer of 200 troops to the Ministry of Interior, as well as information about an AMCIT imprisoned after the April 7 violence. Rosca stated repeatedly that he wanted to change his country, and that he saw the U.S. as his crucial partner in this process. End summary. Rosca Ready to Take Stronger Action on TIP -------------- ¶2. (C) Ambassador met twice with Iurie Rosca, on June 24 and 26, to discuss TIP and other key human rights issues within the newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister's portfolio. Rosca had already read the USG TIP Report in English, knew the issues, and promised to start solving the problems quickly. In response to the Ambassador's points on TIP delivered on June 24, Rosca stressed that he had Acting President Voronin's full confidence, and was "absolutely free" to deal with human rights and TIP. Rosca noted that Voronin had been criticized by the Russians for appointing him (as a former anti-Communist) to this position, but said he would be careful and diplomatic as he did not wish any direct confrontation with the Russians. ¶3. (C) Rosca noted that he had already fought with Minister of Interior Gheorghe Papuc, who wanted to fire the director of the Center for Combating Trafficking in Persons, Valeriu Hincu. Rosca told us on June 24 that both the Prime Minister and the President supported his insistence that Hincu stay on the job, and on June 26 updated us by saying that a highly stressed Hincu (who had been afraid of losing his job) had expressed his desire to continue in this role. ¶4. (C) Rosca noted that he maintained excellent relations with Papuc personally, but went on to explain that he viewed the Ministry of Interior as a "criminal organization" involved in trafficking, corruption and prostitution. He said that it would not be easy to confront them, and that the person to do so would have to be strong and courageous, as it would be struggle against a criminal mafia. Rosca said that he would work carefully, smoothly, and silently, but would have to shake up some people within the structure. Rosca Demonstrates Activism on TIP and Human Rights -------------- -------------- - ¶5. (C) Although the National Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons has met infrequently in the past, Rosca demonstrated his promised activism on TIP by calling a meeting for June 25 to discuss the TIP situation in general and the USG TIP Report in particular. He invited civil society representatives to join government officials at this meeting. ¶6. (C) On human rights, Rosca said that he had met the committee established in the Ministry of CHISINAU 00000525 002 OF 003 Justice to monitor Moldova's compliance with European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) judgments. Rosca told us that Moldova had lost too many cases on police torture, and that he planned to change the situation immediately. Rosca Promises to Address IRI-NDI Registration -------------- - ¶7. (C) On June 26 the Ambassador briefed Rosca about his meeting the day before with President Voronin (ref A),in which he had raised four key issues the MCC Board of Directors would be looking for in making its decision to proceed with the Moldova compact: progress in TIP, free media, elections, and registration of IRI-NDI. Rosca noted that Voronin had already briefed him about this conversation. Rosca reported that he had already told the president that it would be necessary to register IRI and NDI. Understanding the critical linkage with MCC compact and why this was so important for Moldova, Rosca promised to discuss IRI-NDI registration again with the president, and said he would also raise it with Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately. Rosca said he would be careful to identify the right moment to approach Voronin, in order to raise the issue at a time when the Moldovan president would be ready to accept the argument. ¶8. (C) Rosca hypothesized that part of the problem with IRI-NDI registration was the strong influence of Russian security services. Rosca noted that it was relatively easy for certain "agents of influence" around Voronin to manipulate him, while the "normal" people around Voronin did not have the courage to confront him. ¶9. (C) In a later conversation at Embassy's Fourth of July reception, Rosca reported that he had taken up the issue of IRI-NDI registration and gave us a signal that both organizations could get registered. After talking with the Ministry of Justice, Rosca said he believed that it would be possible to register NDI (without Alex Grigorievs) and that something could be done to register IRI, by coming up with a solution using another name. USG Concerns about Troop Transfers from MOD to MOI -------------- -------------- ¶10. (C) In the June 24 meeting, Rosca responded immediately to concerns raised by the Ambassador regarding media reports that the GOM planned to transfer a 200-man special forces battalion from the Ministry of Defense to the Ministry of Interior. Recognizing the possible negative implications of U.S.-trained soldiers participating in election-season crowd control, Rosca immediately crossed the room, dialed the Ministry of Interior, and set up a meeting. Rosca returned on June 26, promising a special letter prepared by the Ministry of Defense with all necessary documentation about this personnel transfer. Embassy DATT was briefed on these transfers and the promised documentation arrived at the Embassy soon after. The MOD explained that 200 unfilled vacancies were being transferred as an inter-governmental administrative step, but that no actual men or equipment were being moved. Detained AMCIT -------------- ¶11. (SBU) In response to Ambassador's concerns raised on June 24 about Romanian-American dual national Yonathan Yerushalayim Netanyahu, arrested for participation in the April 7 post-election destruction of the Parliament building, Rosca offered immediate help with the Ministry of Justice to determine whether the AMCIT had been treated in accordance with Moldovan legal norms. Rosca returned on the 26th with statements from both the Prosecutor General's Office and the Ministry of Justice about this case. The Prosecutor noted that Netanyahu had participated actively in the mass disorders and that in the course of a search of his rented apartment, incendiaries were found. The Ministry of Justice CHISINAU 00000525 003 OF 003 documented that Netanyahu had received medical attention and provided his medical report. Comment -------------- ¶11. (C) Post believes that Rosca offers significant hope for change in areas where Moldova has received the most negative publicity (particularly TIP, human rights, and corruption), and that we should take advantage of Rosca's apparent willingness to address USG concerns. We are pleased with his pragmatic, forward-leaning approach, as demonstrated by his immediate follow- through on each of the issues discussed. Rosca can lead the GOM to take the right steps on TIP. Rosca will hold the job of Deputy Prime Minister at least until parliamentary elections on July 29. If the Party of Communists (PCRM) wins outright or governs in a coalition, Rosca could possibly be retained. If an opposition coalition forms a government, the new leaders would most likely not keep him. The center-right parties regard Rosca as a traitor for his post-2005 electoral alliance with Voronin and the PCRM. CHAUDHRY